Saturday, January 16, 2010

Could Drug Lord Win, Mean Peace?

We'll ask, although with a shiver -- how bad can things get in Mexico's 3-year battle against the drug kings?

Countrywide, there was an all-time record 69 murders in one day! That was Saturday and Juárez continued to be murder-central with 26 of that total.

Mexico's government should be ashamed at what it let itself get into.

But that's empty talk by now. It's to the point where some think that if Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's Sinaloa cartel defeats the others with bullets, there'll be peace because Guzman will then control the flow of illegal drugs out of Mexico.

Across El Paso's ports of entry, the murderous battle is between the Sinaloa cartel and the Juárez cartel, also known as La Linea.

In 2008, there were 1,600 assassination-style murders in Juárez. In 2009, there were more than 2,500. So far this year, the rate is even higher, and the executions more gruesome than ever.

Mexico President Felipe Calderón was hailed three years ago when he declared war on the cartels. He sent the country's army out in pursuit.

The cartels shot back and, by most accounts, are winning. Several thousand troops stationed in Juárez have been ineffective. They were on hand as the death toll mounted daily last year.

This month, in the third year of Mexico vs. the cartels, Calderón announced new plans. His No. 3 priority would be to wipe out the illegal drug trade. His first two priorities centered around jobs and the Mexican economy.

The obvious thinking is that a better economy would abate temptation to become a criminal and/or murderer in order to have some quality of life.

It's so sad that a country's government cannot beat criminals. It's sad that in order for peace, there may have to be a drug-cartel winner.